Georgetown’s water line replacement project hits minor snags

Georgetown’s expansive $2.2 million water line replacement project has fallen slightly behind schedule, but town officials believe the toughest work might now be behind them.

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By Scott Goss

Sussex Countian

By Scott Goss

Posted Nov. 14, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Updated Nov 14, 2012 at 4:07 PM

By Scott Goss

Posted Nov. 14, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Updated Nov 14, 2012 at 4:07 PM

Georgetown, Del.

COST $2.2 million

COMPLETION TARGETED April, 2013

THE DETAILS

Georgetown’s expansive $2.2 million water line replacement project has fallen slightly behind schedule, but town officials believe the toughest work might now be behind them.

“We started with the oldest part of town, which has some of the worst problems, and that’s taken a little longer to address than anticipated,” said Erik Retzlaff, an associate with the town’s contracted engineering firm Davis, Bowen & Friedel. “Hopefully, we’ll find out other areas aren’t as bad as we thought and we’ll be able to make up that time.”

The project, funded entirely by the state department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Health, is intended to address the main breaks and leaking service lines that have plagued the town in recent years.

Retzlaff said those repairs have tied up the town’s public works department, which has had to make dozens of repairs each year on an ad hoc basis.

Heather Warren, a program administrator with the state’s drinking water revolving loan fund, said replacing the old pipes, some of which date back to 1902, also could prevent potential health risks.

“I can’t stress enough that Georgetown’s water is not in exceedance of any public health requirements,” said Heather Warren, a program administrator with the division of public health. “The idea is to replace the aging infrastructure before it becomes a problem.”

THE PROGRESS

The project began in August by replacing water service lines in Ward 2, which encompasses the northeastern quadrant of the town, east of North Bedford Street and north of East Market Street.

As late as next week, the project will move to Ward 1, which encompasses the southeastern quadrant, including areas south of East Market Street and east of South Bedford Street.

“The first places we’ll be going is Ingramtown Road at the intersections of East Pine Street and South King Street,” Bradley said.

That phase of the project will be followed by Ward 3 to the southwest of The Circle and Ward 4 to the northwest.

“The primary focus of the project is those areas in the distribution system where the majority of the leaks have been concentrated over the years and the service lines have been the most problematic to repair,” Town Manager Gene Dvornick said in a release. “Constraints on the project would not permit all of the services throughout the Town to be replaced so the scope was geared towards getting the most value for the money being spent.”

Page 2 of 2 - Notifications are being sent out to all town water customers in the affected area two to four weeks before construction begins, town officials said.